Details

• Argentina
• MAWiRe-21
• Graduate
• SoSe 2026
• Time spent at the partner university: 4 months
• Contact: Login to see contact information

1. Preparation

Before applying for an exchange semester, I think it is worth taking a step back and asking yourself what you actually want to get out of doing an exchange. For me, it was clear from the start: I wanted to live far away from Austria, learn a new language and travel as much as possible. Keeping that in mind, the choice quickly narrowed down to South America and Argentina in particular. I only booked a one-way ticket, since I knew I wanted to travel afterwards and wanted to keep my options open. I would definitely recommend this, as it allows you to decide spontaneously and stay flexible. In terms of preparation, I would recommend checking and arranging vaccinations early on, especially if you plan to travel to other South American countries, since some of them require specific vaccinations as an entry condition. It's also important to get your visa organised early. Everything else can be handled fairly spontaneously.

2. Accommodation

Based on recommendations, I lived in the Palermo neighbourhood and I was very happy with that choice. Not only because of safety, but also because many of my friends lived in this area and I really enjoyed the flair of this neighbourhood with its cafés, bars and restaurants. I found a private apartment through a website for exchange students in Buenos Aires and lived there with three other exchange students from my university, whom I got in touch with through a WhatsApp group, set up by the university. Since you cannot always rely on the bus schedules, it took me on average one hour to get to university, which in my opinion is reasonable and not unusual, for a big city like Buenos Aires.

3. Academic life at host university

Overall, my courses were quite easy and did not require much effort. The 80% attendance requirement was taken relatively strictly by my professors, though this was not the case for all of them. Most courses had midterms, which for me only consisted of essays. Final exams were partly (simple) written exams or also essays. Participation was required in all courses but that requirement was not difficult to achieve. Since the courses were not very time-consuming, I was able to travel a lot during the semester as well. The university itself is very modern and well equipped. The best thing about Di Tella is the large terrace, where you could meet up with friends during breaks and enjoy the sun during lunch break.

5. Every day life in the host country

Buenos Aires has a lot to offer and everyday life there is very easy. Even though it's such a big city, it never felt hectic to me, as people there are generally very easy-going, relaxed, friendly and helpful. You notice this especially when taking the bus, which doesn't run on a very regular schedule. Being late is therefor is not the exception but rather the norm, and you just have to accept it and not let it stress you out, the same way as Argentinians do. During the day, I mostly used the bus and metro to get around, while in the evenings I switched to Uber or Uber Moto, which was quite cheap. Areas such as Recoleta and Palermo felt very safe, whereas Centro and Boca are better avoided at night. There's always something going on in the city, and there are endless social and leisure activities, including restaurants, bars, cultural events and sport. The university also offers a wide range of sports activities for free. Buenos Aires is also a great base for travelling around South America, so I would definitely recommend planning in one or two extra months after the semester for travelling.

6. Testimonial

My exchange semester was, much more than I could have ever hoped for. I got to travel to amazing places, improve my Spanish, and gain the experience of living in a country that was completely unknown to me before. What made this experience so special, without a doubt, were the wonderful people I met there. After my exchange semester, I extended my trip with additional travelling, which made it, overall, one of the best months of my life.